Revving up the Pleasure Beach water taxi

It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of summer visitors to the reclaimed peninsula next Saturday, June 28, 2014. less

It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of ... more

It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of summer visitors to the reclaimed peninsula next Saturday, June 28, 2014. less

It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of ... more

The building on Pleasure Beach that is going to be a welcome center. It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of summer visitors to the reclaimed peninsula next Saturday, June 28, 2014. less

The building on Pleasure Beach that is going to be a welcome center. It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, so it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out ... more

BRIDGEPORT -- It's been nearly 20 years since Pleasure Beach was open to the public, and at least then it was accessible by a bridge.

So it goes without saying that parks officials are trying to iron out all the details and still face uncertainties as they prepare to water taxi the first wave of summer visitors next Saturday to the reclaimed peninsula.

"We had a big meeting yesterday just talking about, `Let's go over it again'," said Charlie Carroll, head of the parks department, last week. "And we're going to do a dry run next week. `Okay, what do we do if this happens'. We hope we have thought of everything."

The tourist attraction had already seen far better days when, on Father's Day, 1996, the bridge linking Pleasure Beach to the mainland and Seaview Avenue was damaged by fire.

After years of promises Mayor Bill Finch's administration, abetted by a few million dollars from the state and federal governments, has made enough improvements to formally re-open the beach to those who have been unwilling or unable to make the long walk from Stratford's shoreline.

"It's a big thing to get significant public access to Long Island Sound," said DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain.

One 23-person water taxi will ferry visitors to a pier. The ride lasts a few minutes. There are some limited walkways -- with golf carts available to assist those who need it, a renovated pavilion with bathrooms and showers and about 600 feet of recreational New England coastline.

"(It) is a smaller beach area. It's not like Seaside (Park)," Carroll said, referring to Bridgeport's historic public beach in the city's South End.

Part of the issue has to do with nesting birds. In order to be able to provide access to Pleasure Beach, the city had to ensure they would be protected.

There will be four lifeguards on duty patrolling a roped off swimming area, and two police officers.

Planning has included what to do if an injured person needed hospital care.

"We have vehicles that can carry a litter and move somebody at the same time we're making a call to the boat to the dock," Carroll said. "And we have the ability to land a boat at the beach if we had to. It will depend on what the nature of the emergency is."

Carroll said the plan is to open the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but that could change.

"That's going to be driven a lot by how many people get on the island," he said. "It takes time to get people off."

And do not plan on making the trip of if thunderstorms are in the forecast.

"If we know thunderstorms are coming up we're not opening," he said. "There's limited places for people to take shelter and we're not going to endanger the public or staff."

The city also purchased a 16-passenger water taxi, but Carroll said that has been designated the "work boat" to bring out city personnel and equipment.

Both parking and the boat rides are free, for now, to residents and out-of-towners alike.

"Right now we're really hoping to open it to people to see the island," Carroll said. "We don't want to discourage anybody from coming."

A fenced in gravel parking lot off of Seaview Avenue can hold 97 cars, and about 55 cars can park on the street.

Bring your standard beach gear and coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages, but do not plan on grilling or otherwise heating up anything at Pleasure Beach. It's not allowed.

The city is offering very limited concessions, Carroll said -- water, soft drinks and dry snacks.

"We're not cooking," Carroll said.

And leave your dogs back home with the hot dogs. Pets are not welcome, either.

Also do not plan on organizing any major sporting events. Existing athletic fields are long overgrown, with new ones part of a future upgrade.

So who does Carroll expect will be visiting Pleasure Beach this summer?

"It's a trip to go out there, obviously," he said. "I think it's going to have its own niche of (people) who want to get a little more in touch with nature and who really just want to go sun themselves or swim."

"We don't know the answer as to how busy it's going to get," Carroll added. "We're all going to find out together."